Aberdeen Dad Vail ® Regatta - Brock And Roll ... All The Way To Henley

After coming to the Aberdeen Dad Vail as relative
unknowns, Brock University left with MV8 gold and
a free trip to the Henley Royal Regatta.

Peter Somerwil could have been a tad offended. Instead, he grinned sheepishly and soaked in the moment.

"Who is Brock?" rang out first, as a relatively unknown men's varsity eight dashed across the Schuylkill River finish line. Then came, "Where is Brock?"

With all eyes transfixed upon the mystery team and confusion mounting in the Kelly Drive grandstands, Somerwil made his way toward the 2010 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta awards dock. The Brock head coach wanted a good view of his heavyweight eight hoisting the Vail's most coveted hardware - the Richard O'Brien Trophy - high into the Philadelphia sky.

Brock University, making only its fourth visit to the Aberdeen Dad Vail from St. Catharines, Ontario, officially became the first Canadian crew to win the regatta's premier event last year, a fact that Somerwil was unaware of at the time. Moreover, he was entirely unprepared for what occurred next.

"Everything happened very quickly," Somerwil remembers.

As Brock's shell slid away from the award's dock adorned with gold medals, Somerwil and Steffan Wagner, the team's men's varsity coach, were approached by Jack Galloway, chairman of the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee.

"Aberdeen and the DVROC would like to sponsor your crew to compete at the Henley Royal Regatta in England," Galloway said plainly.

For a moment, Somerwil and Wagner responded with blank stares. The confusion in the
grandstands was replaced by the disbelief of the Brock coaches.

"I was totally unaware that the winners of that event got help to go to Henley," Somerwil says a year later. "It was great news, almost unbelievable because that was something we had thought about trying to do on our own for years, but obviously finances were always the issue."

Not this time they weren't. The sponsorship of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee with support from Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., would guarantee travel and accommodations for the Brock men.

Upon returning to Ontario, Brock scrambled to prepare for its trip abroad. Every time the coaches went to make preparations, though, they received more mouth-dropping details.

"Everything fell into place," Somerwil says. "We understood that we were going to get
accommodations, but then we'd get an email saying that we would receive free breakfast.
Then the next one would come saying dinner was included too. Then we received one just saying we'd have a chef there to prepare our meals. We just kept getting little tidbits of good news and every time you could just see excitement build within the crew."

Then there was the lodging. Somerwil's crew of coxswain Alexsia Dekaneas, stroke Ben
Cushnie, Brendan Coffey, Keegan Drummond, Thomas Morley, Joshua Gracin, Travis King, Corey Brunton, Sylas Coletto and backup Patrick O'Connor nestled itself into an old manor on the banks of the River Thames opposite Henley's finish line. The housing came compliments of the team at Aberdeen Asset Management. Aberdeen has a heritage in rowing and therefore obviously has connections at Henley.

"We couldn't have asked for anything more," Wagner says.

If the Schuylkill River is the stage for North American aspirations, then the River Thames is the theater for worldwide dreams. Brock had made three previous appearances at Henley, but none under Somerwil's direction. The coach traveled to England wanting to harmonize two goals - enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and remaining disciplined in competing for the prestigious Temple Challenge Cup.

Somerwil received exactly what he was looking for. Brock beat a crew from the Netherlands in the first round and topped Grand Valley State in the second round before losing by less than a boat length in the quarterfinals against Queen's University of Belfast.

"I thought they handled everything very, very well," Somerwil says. "They raced extremely well on the water. Even in the race they were eliminated it was a hard-fought race and it was one of the closest of the day. I think they were proud of their achievement on the water as much as they enjoyed the excitement of everything that goes on around Henley off the water."

The Brock coaches wax lyrically when reciting the events of last spring. From the stunning victory at the Aberdeen Dad Vail to the heaping of hospitality received at Henley to the blaze of anticipation that comes with racing on the River Thames - Brock lived out its dream.

"It was clearly one of those experiences that every one of those guys will remember for life," Somerwil says. "I foresee these guys getting together 20 years down the road and it's one of the big things they'll talk about. It will bond them for life."

No longer will people need to ask who, what or where Brock is. At the 2011 Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Presented by Coca-Cola, the crew returns as a defending champion.

"I think things," Somerwil concludes, "will be a little different this year."

Brendan F. Quinn
Editorial Writer
Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee
DVROC Office Line: (610) 234-2076
brendan.quinn@dadvail.org.
www.dadvail.org
www.twitter.com/DadVaildotTV

About the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, Presented by Coca-Cola®
The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta presented by Coca-Cola is the largest collegiate regatta in North America with over 100 colleges and universities from the United States and Canada. Held annually since 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the Schuylkill River, thousands of student athletes and spectators visit the City of Philadelphia during the weekend of the second Saturday in May.

About Title Sponsor — Aberdeen Asset Management
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc is the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, a global investment management group which is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, and manages more than $287 billion of assets for both institutions and private individuals (as of Dec. 31, 2010). Philadelphia is home to the U.S. equity and fixed income investment management teams, as well as U.S. client servicing, consultant relations, business development and other operational staff: more than 180 employees in total. Aberdeen manages and services approximately $53 billion in total assets on behalf of North American and international clients. For more information, visit www.aberdeen-asset.us Here in the U.S., Aberdeen is also proud to be one of the supporters of the British Garden at Hanover Square, New York. This New York City park celebrates historic ties of friendship and unity between the U.S. and the UK. Globally, Aberdeen has a long standing association with university rowing competitions having sponsored the Oxford v Cambridge University Boat Race in the UK from 1999 – 2005. The company also continues to support the Aberdeen Universities Boat Race in Aberdeen, Scotland in their annual event which takes place every February.

About Presenting Sponsor — The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

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